Global FoodBanking Network Enhances Sustainability Efforts

The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), a nonprofit organization committed to alleviating hunger and food insecurity, has made a great stride toward strengthening its sustainability work and increasing its reach. Through the implementation of Microsoft Sustainability Manager across its 778 community food banks in 54 countries, GFN has transformed its operations, reduced emissions, and streamlined data reporting, which would help increase efficiency and donor engagement.

For GFN, the manual reporting of data was a constant bottleneck, wasting precious time and resources that could have been better spent on core operations. This inefficiency also limited the organization's ability to scale and its appeal to donors who want to see quantifiable environmental and social impact metrics. Recognizing the need for a transformative solution, GFN integrated Microsoft Sustainability Manager into its operations to better track and measure its progress toward key Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger, Climate Action, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Decent Work and Economic Growth.

The work of GFN is directly linked to food redistribution and sustainability. Surplus food redistribution not only helps alleviate hunger but also reduces methane emissions by diverting food waste from landfills. Microsoft Sustainability Manager has empowered GFN to amplify this impact across its network by enabling precise data tracking and reporting. The platform automates data collection, allowing food banks to focus on their core mission while providing a clear picture of their environmental contributions.

Our food banks often have to choose between hiring a social worker, buying a truck, or collecting data," said Ana Catalina Suárez Peña, GFN's Strategic Innovation Senior Director. "Microsoft Sustainability Manager has made it possible to streamline data reporting, making it easier for food banks to quantify their impact and scale their operations."

One of the success stories is from Banco de Alimentos Quito in Ecuador, one of GFN's food banks. The organization, reaching up to 90,000 people monthly across 95 community organizations, was piloting Microsoft Sustainability Manager with encouraging results. The platform has allowed the food bank to track its operations month by month, highlight where inefficiencies lay, and further optimize processes to contribute less to carbon emissions. For example, improvements in refrigeration systems not only improved operational efficiency but also showcased how automated data management can result in a tangible reduction in emissions.

With Sustainability Manager, we were able to identify inefficiencies and streamline processes to minimize our carbon footprint," said Alicia Guevara, founder and professor at Escuela Politécnica Nacional. Automation of mundane tasks freed the staff of Banco de Alimentos Quito to focus on strategic initiatives, exemplifying how technology can drive community impact.

Transparency has also been one of the significant advantages of GFN's partnership with Microsoft. The organization can now provide clear and detailed reports to stakeholders, including donors, governments, and other partners, using reliable and auditable data. This transparency has not only strengthened donor engagement but has also influenced policymaking. For example, in Ecuador, the data-driven insights of GFN have prompted government officials to consider food banking as a vital component of their methane reduction strategies.

In 2023, GFN food banks recovered a staggering amount of 654 million kilograms of food, avoiding the emission of the equivalent of 1.8 million metric tons of CO2. These results demonstrate the organization's commitment to sustainability while also demonstrating the extraordinary environmental impact of redistributing food. By all accounts, GFN has set an ambitious goal of improving food access for 50 million people by 2030 and will continue to benefit from the support of Microsoft Sustainability Manager.

The company has scaled up Sustainability Manager adoption into new regions in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. To extend the technology in different cultures and operational scenarios, GFN develops the system, thereby making it globally applicable and relevant. It therefore demonstrates that through technology, it is geared toward ending hunger and reducing wastage and greenhouse emissions.

“With Microsoft’s help, we’re working towards a more sustainable and compassionate world,” Suárez Peña affirmed. The partnership between GFN and Microsoft not only strengthens the operational capabilities of food banks but also inspires broader collaboration among stakeholders, reinforcing the critical role of data-backed strategies in building a sustainable future.